Democratic Reform Flashcards
Areopagus
The last oligarchic element to the Athenian political system, a board of ex-archons who held office for life and had significant powers both religious and secular.
Ecclesia
The popular assembly in Athens, after Ephialtes reforms all male citizens over 18 could attend the meetings. They had the sole power to pass policy decisions and legislation.
Heliaea
The Heliaea was the people’s court, after Ephialtes reforms the Heliaea become the court of first instance for most law disputes in Athens and the Delian League.
Boule of 500
The council of 500 citizens who acted as the political executive, they performed administrative roles including supervising and assisting the various public officials both external and internal. They also organised the agenda for ecclesia meetings. The group was drawn by lot, totalling 50 men from each tribe.
Nomophylakia
A term used to describe the power of the Areopagus to provide guardianship over the laws.
Dokimasia
A term used to describe the examination of public officials before they assume office to make sure they are entitled to take up the post. Before it was a duty performed by the Areopagus, but after Ephialtes reforms dokimasia was given to the Heliaea.
Euthuna
A term used to describe the investigation of public officials after they completed their term of office to see whether they acted in accordance with the law. Originally a power that could be used at the discretion of the Areopagus, under Pericles’ reforms Euthuna became mandatory for all public officials.
Euthunoi
A title created by Ephialtes under his reforms. There were ten Euthunoi, elected and chosen from the Boule of 500, responsible for conducting Euthuna into every public official.
Eisengelia
A principle in which every citizen has the right to bring a crime against any other citizen.
Zeugitae
A term used to refer to the hoplite class in the Athenian democratic system, in the context of the reforms, zeugitae refers to the ability for every person to become archon after 458, a reform introduced under Pericles.
Logistai
A title created by Ephialtes under his reforms. There were thirty logistai, elected and chosen from the Boule, responsible for investigating the accounts of all public officials who handled public funds.
Dikasteria
The smaller panels of the Haliaea which were used after Ephialtes reforms to act as one unit of jurors.
Misthophoria
Introduced under Pericles in the late 450s, Misthophoria gave every juror a pay of two obols per working day so that even the poorest Athenian could participate in government.
Citizenship Laws
Introduced by Pericles in 451, these laws ensured that Athenian citizenship could only be granted to people born to two Athenian parents. These laws attempted to solve the issue of an excess of Athenian citizens.
Archai
Meaning political friendship, the basis on which political factions were built in democratic Athens.
